What is the current status of the length that one may collect benefits…
If you lose your job today, how many weeks can you count on?
Of those currently collecting, what is the longest that anyone could collect or continue to collect under the current rules?
During the recent downturn, what is the longest anybody could have collected (if dif from #2).
1). I believe it varies from state to state. Here it is 6 months, boosted to 12 by Obama’s Federal boost to the program. You have to reapply at 6 months.
2). When I went to the office, I’d met people who were unemployed and collecting for years. They have special situations: one was a construction worker, there are special state rules for construction workers (here in CT) he had been out of work for 3 years. Another was partially disabled by a back injury. He was re-registering for his third year.
The person with the back injury was most likely collecting disability benefits, not unemployment.
The answers do vary by state.
In WA, you qualify for $x in benefits over up to 12 months. If you take the benefits as quickly as possible, they’ll be fully paid out in 6 months, however. The 12 months issue only helps if you take less than the full amount (for example, temporary or part-time work).
As others have noted it varies by state.
I believe, though, that generally speaking the answer to #3 was (is?) 99 weeks, hence the so-called “99er’s”.
And also I should note that the amount of benefits you’re eligible to collect can/will depend on how long you’ve been working, how much you’ve earned over that time, etc.
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See, that’s logical, but he was at the Unemployment Office, renewing his Unemployment Benefits as he had 6 month ago for years, and mentioning that he was still in therapy for his back as the reason for the repitition, to the clear note of assent from the Unemployment Center worker.
Can someone answer this?
Suppose (just suppose:)) you are on disability (SSDI) and after a few years, that gets reviewed and they decide you can work again, so your SSDI benefits get terminated. Then, due to your rusted job skills but mainly to this shitty job-free economy, you can’t get a job, and besides who would hire such a person these days anyway? Under that circumstance, can you then begin to get unemployment benefits of any kind? Or do you then join the [del]Teeming[/del]Starving Millions out in the gutter?
My understanding is that SS disability is for people whose disabilities are such that they’re removed from the labor pool altogeather. Some states have a separate program that extends unemployment insurance if the recipient has a physical problem that keeps them from continuing in their previous profession, but isn’t severe enough to keep them from finding work in other areas. The idea being that its harder for an ex-construction worker or whatever to find work if they can’t get another job in construction, but have to look where they have no experience.
Is it still 99 for those who recently lost their job?
I don’t know if it still is, best to contact your state’s unemployment office.
Yes. Mostly. But, a total disability might not be permanent, and a totally disabled worker might eventually recover enough to return to work. Thus, there are rules that will help with this process. A disabled worker is allowed to work, for pay, some limited amount each month and still collect SSDI benefits. Also, there is a “trial work” period in which you can work, even full time, for some number of months to see how it will go, while still collecting benefits. And there are some other special rules that help a disabled person work while still disabled (for example, while using a wheel-chair), and still collect something-or-other. There is a published brochure on the subject.
If you are getting SSI and want to try working, there are rules for that too, although they are different. The above-cited brochure covers that too.